Key Lake Elsinore median to be landscaped

After wrestling with what to do about a median on a key street, the Lake Elsinore City Council agreed this week to have it fully landscaped.

The raised median divides traffic along a nearly mile-long stretch of Collier Avenue, a major thoroughfare in northern Lake Elsinore. Collier connects with two Interstate 15 junctions and borders one side of the Lake Elsinore Outlets mall.

Despite its strategic locale, the median remains barren dirt in its interior, except for the weeds that city workers periodically trim.

Although improving the structure's appearance has been among the City Council's priorities, the panel has in past years rejected or postponed prior proposals, at least partly due to budget constraints.

On Tuesday, City Manager Grant Yates and Public Works Director Ken Seumalo asked the council to endorse full landscaping improvements and authorize the staff to select a landscape architect.

While explaining that the cost of the project will be determined later, Seumalo assured council members there is money available in the capital improvements budget to pay for the work.

The council members asked the staff to see if management at the Outlets would be willing to participate in conjunction with its plan to renovate the center.